Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-10-29
HOW NOT TO 90 IT.
Prentice Mulford Writes About the Cook
ing Of Irish Moss.

Prentice Mulford Writes About the Cook
ing Of Irish Mo.s-
Especial Correspondence.l
SIAscoNsEr. Nantucket, Oct. A.-Ths
beach here is strewn with Irish moss. bad
heard it made blanc mango. dreamt of
blanc mango the color Of snow, and being at
times culinary in tendency, determined to
try it on. gathered half peck Of moa I
washed it as clean as . man can wash any
thing They told me to stew it in milk l
stewed it in half gallon Of milk. As 1t
stewed it svelied. l put it in the largest
saucepan l could find. 1t swslled overmuch
for that saucepan. l reduced the quantity
to the waste Of some milk Still 1t swellsd
The more l stirred it tie moro it stswsd and
the more 1t sweIlei It reminded me Of q
dish Of village scandal, which the moro it il
agi,ated At tea tables and Dorcas sewing soci-
eties the mors it grows. The mos boiled at
last to pasty mass the color Of snow, It il
true, but the color Of snow only after it
has lain few hours in an inhabited pig pen,
not "the beautiful snow" favored it with
some sugar and little rum Il regret now the
rum l put in it; it was q dead Ioas) Then
dipped it out and put it in moids. After
using up what molds there were in the
house, l found therc was still more blanc
mango; in fact more than ever in the sauce
pan. II seemed TO possess . wonderful quality
for evolving more and moro out Of itself
l filed all the available tea cups In the house,
and almost everything else that was hollow.
l speculated meanwhile on what an enormous
quantity Of this delicate food was drifting on
Nantucket's shores, and used only for
fertilizing the soil. You see hadn't yet
tasted Of my mess. l served out one mold
for dinner II didn't look savory or delicate.
It was muddy in color. with black specks in
it here and there, suggestive Of dead f,ies
These were not dead flies. They were the
black roots Of tho moss which l had not
chopped of and which would not dissolve.
Then / tasted it. tasted a small part Of ono
spoonful. That was enough. That satisfied
me. / have had all want Of stewsd SEQ
weed, sugar and rum know not altar this
what others may AK, hut asl Tor M give ms
liberty and death and rum without
the SEA weed or sugar. However,
gave my moss mess another trial
Or rather, kept a mold Of it on the
table, thinking my capricious appetite
might take fancy to it. Ne 1t inclined
the other way. The very smell Of the thing
wont a1as.lst me. Lastly, could not abide
its aigkS I discharged the eutirs lot. l
tumbled thirty-two molds Of blanc mango,
in shape resembling about every hollow YES
sel had in the house, into the swin barrel
I cooked, it seems, for Mr.. Folgers pigs Mr..
Folger comes round daily and takes our table
refuse a~ay. He is ons Of The Nantucket
FoIgers aud distant relative q our former
secretary Of the treasury. There are several
Folger families still ON Nantucket It i one
of the principal industries Of the island to
produce Folgers As well q Cofins and Star
bucka There is plenty Of mos still on the
shore. Plenty Of fresh moss is daily washing
in. 1t is here free for every one that thirst
eth. But as for mo would not enter on nv
list Of friends, though graced with polished
manners and fine sense, the man who would
heeilesly set before me mess Of mos.
PRENrICI MILFORD.